Saturday, October 22, 2016

Bible Study Notes in Esther- Chapter 9

Esther 9

-This chapter now details the events of this 13th day of Adar,
which was intended for the destruction of the Jews but turned into a day of
great victory for God’s people because of His sovereign plan. It also details
the creation of the holiday of Purim, which is still very much celebrated by
the Jews even to our present time. When the enemies of the Jews had hoped to
gain mastery over them, “it was turned to the contrary so that the Jews
themselves gained the mastery over those who hated them.” They assembled in
their cities throughout all the kingdom of Ahasuerus to lay hands in defense of
those whom may try to destroy them or do them any harm. No one could stand
before the Jews now, for the tide had turned with the king’s support and the
LORD’s dread upon all the peoples. None of the leaders dared to support the
uprising purported by Haman for the destruction of the Jews. The princes of the
provinces, the satraps, the governors, and everyone doing the king’s business
all became allies and assisted the Jews because the dread of Mordecai had come
upon them. “Indeed, Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame spread
throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai became greater and greater.”
Because of all of this, the Jews were able to strike all their enemies with the
sword, killing and destroying; and they were able to do what they pleased to
those who hated them. At the citadel in Susa, 500 men were killed and destroyed
by the Jews including Haman’s ten sons. However, in an act of kindness, the
Jews did not lay their hands on any plunder in this vindication. This was
totally antithetical to the plans and purposes of their enemies who wanted to
profit at the Hebrews’ expense (Esther 3:9, 13). On that day when it was
reported to the king the number of those that the Jews had killed in his
capital city, Ahasuerus asked his queen what had gone on in the other provinces
and what else she might want to have happen. He promised to abide with whatever
she desired in further requests. Esther only asked that, if it pleased the king
(continued mark of respect here for her authority figure), Haman’s ten sons be
hanged on the gallows, which was done presumably to deter anyone else from
wanting to rise up against her people ever again. The edict was quickly issued
and carried out. The next day on the 14th of Adar, 300 more men were
killed in Susa as enemies of the Jews, and again no plunder was taken. In the
rest of the kingdom, a whopping 75,000 men were killed that had hated the Jews,
and no plunder was taken from them as well. For those in the far reaches of the
kingdom, all the action did take place on the 13th day of Adar, with
the 14th being a day of rest with feasting and celebration. It was a
bit different in Susa, since there were still some conflicts going on, but they
rested, feasted, and rejoiced by the 15th day of Adar (Esther
9:1-18).

-The issue of commemorating this monumental event was next dealt with in the
text. In rural areas, it was immediately celebrated on the 14th day
of Adar as a holiday for rejoicing and feasting and sending portions of food to
one another in generosity and thanksgiving. Mordecai recorded these events as a
prominent man in the kingdom and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all
the provinces both far and near. In these letters he obliged them to celebrate
on both the 14th and 15th days of Adar respectively and
annually, “because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which turned for them
from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should
make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the
poor.” The Jews readily undertook all that Mordecai purposed to do in his
writings to them, for Haman, the Agagite and enemy of the Jews, had schemed
against their people and had cast Pur, that is “the lot,” to disturb and
destroy them. When the matter had come before the king’s attention, because of
the love he had for his queen and Divine providence, Ahasuerus had commanded by
letter that this wicked scheme in opposition to the Jews be returned upon the
head of this evil villain along with his ten sons by hanging on the gallows.
These days became known as “Purim” after the name Pur (the lot). Because of the
instructions in this letter by Mordecai, and what they had seen in this regard
and what had happened to them, the Jews readily established and made a custom
for themselves, their descendants, and all who allied themselves with them this
as a perpetual holiday of celebration according to regulation and appointed
time annually. Every generation and every family would remember this occurrence
so as to not let the memory of this miraculous event ever fade. Queen Esther
ratified this with a second letter herself in full authority to confirm this
celebration of Purim. She, with her cousin Mordecai collaborating, sent these letters
to all 127 provinces of the kingdom with words of peace and truth to establish
these days of Purim with all its instructions for their times of fasting and
lamentations (crying out to God). This indicates their willingness to never
forget to stop, praise, and exalt their God for helping them in a time of
severe crisis. So, the commands of the elevated Queen Esther established these
customs for Purim, “and it was written in the book (Esther 9:19-32).”

*Application* What we should take from this Scriptural lesson today is the
long-term effects and remembrances of God’s Divine work in helping us escape
and prosper. He has set us free from the enemy and given us victory unto
victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). We should never go back into slavery of sin as
believers in His redemption. He works all things for our good (Romans 8:28).
Feasting, rejoicing, worship, giving, peace, and truth should all flow out of
us as citizens of the Divine Kingdom.